Running at dawn...

[greenlegs]

A week ago, there is no way I'd have considered running in the morning, before it had got light. But this morning I woke up early, couldn't get back to sleep, and thought - I might as well get up and go out.

I got up to five lots of 60 seconds today, but did the rest at a brisk walk, as I was getting knee twinges, and my heart rate stayed over 70% of the max for my age. (I know heart rate max is hard to know for sure, but for now, I'm using the one that my monitor/watch gives me - anyway it was enough for me to need to shower when I got back!) I'll get there eventually, and hopefully I'll avoid joint problems.

I suspect that my brisk walking may actually be faster than my jogging! But the jogging, even very slowly, is much tougher on my legs. Anyway, I feel good.

It was lovely hearing the birds waking up. Oh, and I crossed paths with four other people, and three of them smiled back, which was lovely.

[earl-grey-sian Graduate]

Just think how lovely it will be running on a spring morning when everyone else is still asleep and the world belongs to you. Unfortunately I don't seem to be able to run in the mornings, on the four occasions I've tried to, I've pulled a calf muscle. I've concluded that my muscles are just too cold in the mornings

[greenlegs Graduate]

yes, that spring morning idea is a very appealing thought!

And the pulled muscle bit makes me all the more sure I'm going to do this at the pace that suits my body, rather than to fit a standard scheme. Especially since I've been reading up a bit more, and have found other -to-5-k programmes for beginners take 12 weeks or more. This site does seem to have an awful lot of stories about injuries!

I wonder whether anyone has done research into how many people that start actually get to 5k injury-free? or how many drop out because it's a bit too fast?

I'm also signed up with the sparkpeople website, and I had an email from there this morning with advice for new runners, and it said that heart and lungs adapt much faster than the rest of the body - some people will take several months for the biomechanics to adjust to running.

[rolphie2 Graduate]

Wow well done, I love running early in the morning with no one around to bother me. I even got beeped once by a man in a car (obviously it was dark, early and he couldn't see my beetroot face and wrinkles!) which put me in an excellent mood for the whole day. It is a good idea to do it at your own pace, there is no point in injurying yourself or stopping cos it is too difficult. Your out and you are exercising that is what is important. Good luck with your next jog/walk

[greenlegs Graduate]

Thanks!

[Julesdav Graduate]

After reading your blog and lying in bed this am planning Christmas I got up and did a winter solstice run. Running before 7 am, what is happening to me. It was my best ever!!! Got a congrats message on the nano though .... From lance Armstrong!!...and all I had was a cup of earl Gary x

[greenlegs Graduate]

Ooo! I've inspired someone else in my first week! So glad you enjoyed it. The Lance Armstrong message bit really tickled me too!